Wane gears up for super duel

Darrell Goulding gets in a tackle in the game against the Vikings at the Stobart Stadium

Published:09:42Friday 23 March 2012

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THE centre battle between Wigan’s Darrell Goulding and Wolves’ Ryan Atkins will provide an intriguing sub-plot to tonight’s Super League showdown, according to the Shaun Wane.

The Warriors head coach reckons both players have a point to prove after being left out of Steve McNamara’s England elite training squad earlier this month.

Atkins’ omission stunned many fans following his strong form – and Wane reckons Goulding, a 2010 Four Nations representative, was equally unfortunate.

He predicts sparks to fly when they go head-to-head in tonight’s DW clash with Warrington.

He said: “Atkins is a very good player, he’s got good skill and he’s strong – and I think the same about Darrell. His form has been superb for us this year and I do think he’s been unlucky to miss out on England.

“I said to him. ‘It doesn’t matter what anyone thinks’, it will happen if he carries on working on his game – and that’s what he is doing.

“He knows there are areas of his game he needs to improve on, and facing Atkins is certainly a good challenge for him.”